TAMING THE CEO'S HEART ☺️

--- Chapter One Amara – “The Interview” I was five minutes early. That’s how desperate I was. My heels clicked too loudly against the marble floor as I stepped into the D’Voré International tower—tall glass walls, cold lighting, and enough tension in the air to make you choke on it. I clutched my file tighter to my chest and whispered a silent prayer: Don’t let me embarrass myself. Please. This was it. My one shot. After a year of dead-end applications, I’d finally landed an interview at the most prestigious company in the city—with a salary that could actually save me. No more borrowing, no more begging. Just a clean slate. The woman at the front desk barely looked up. “Top floor. Mr. D’Voré will see you now.” Wait—Mr. D’Voré? I blinked. “I thought I’d be meeting with HR…” She raised an eyebrow. “He handles all his executive hires personally. You’ve got two minutes to make it up there. Good luck.” My stomach dropped. The CEO himself? I wasn’t ready for that. But I nodded, turned toward the elevator, and hit the button with trembling fingers. The moment the doors slid open to the top floor, I felt it—power. Cold, quiet, suffocating power. Then I saw him. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Wearing a tailored black suit like it was made for his sin. Zephyr D’Voré stood by the window, back turned to me, his hands clasped behind him like a man who owned the world and hated most of it. “I expected someone late,” he said without turning. His voice was low, smooth, lethal. I swallowed. “I’m… Amara Vale.” He turned. And my breath caught. God. Pictures did not do him justice. His jaw was sharp, his eyes a piercing gray-blue that made me feel like I was being x-rayed. He looked at me for a moment that stretched far too long—and in that moment, I wasn’t just nervous. I was exposed. “Sit,” he said, motioning to the chair across from his desk. I sat, trying to ignore how fast my heart was beating. He didn’t glance at my file. He just stared. “You’re twenty-three,” he said. “No references from anyone I know. No elite schools. Just a solid degree, some short internships, and a face that looks like it doesn’t belong in corporate hell.” My face turned red in embarrassment, “I know I’m not the most experienced applicant, sir, but I learn quickly. I work hard. I—” “What makes you think I’d hire someone like you?” His words were ice. But I didn’t flinch. I looked him straight in the eye. “Because I’m not just someone like me. I’m me. And once I start, I don’t stop until I’m the best at whatever I do. You want someone who’ll give you everything they’ve got? That’s me. No excuses. No distractions.” For a second, his eyes flickered. Just a crack in that icy composure. I couldn’t tell if he was amused… or intrigued. Then he leaned forward, folding his hands under his chin. “I don’t hire based on sob stories, Miss Vale. Or big declarations. I hire based on instinct.” I held my breath. His gaze dropped—slowly—to my lips. Then back up. I swear, time stopped. Then he stood. “You’re hired.” Wait, what? “I—what?” “Don’t make me repeat myself.” His voice was calm, but firm. “You start Monday. Seven a.m. sharp. Don’t be late.” He walked over to the door and opened it without another word, like the conversation—and my fate—were both already sealed. I stood slowly, clutching my file like it was the only thing keeping me upright. Before I stepped out, I turned. “Thank you.” He didn’t smile. Didn’t nod. Just said, “Don’t make me regret it.” --- The elevator doors closed behind me and I nearly collapsed. I got the job. I got the job. But as I rode back down to the lobby, heart thundering in my chest, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I hadn’t just walked into a corporate role. I’d stepped into a game. And Zephyr D’Voré? He wasn’t just a CEO. He was the devil dressed in designer—and something in his eyes told me I’d already given him more than I realized. Not just my words. But his attention. His interest. And maybe—God help me—his desire. ---